Whether you’re a computer technician, web designer or even a casual computer user, chances are you don’t want your personal data to be shared with the whole world or deleted without your permission.

Ransomware is designed to trick users into downloading unwelcome viruses. The download pretends to be an important email, internet download, or a PDF file. When the user clicks on this fake link the ransomware buries itself in the computer and starts encrypting the users data.The user’s data becomes encrypted (almost impossible to access) and a message pops up with the next steps. When you receive this message, stop what you are doing. Let go of the mouse and assess the situation.

There has been a lot of hype now that Windows 10 has released its Technical Preview on July 29th. So far, the feedback has been mostly positive. Microsoft is being praised for the move away from the frustrating aspects of Windows 8 and the inclusion of many new powerful features. The release of Windows 10 hasn’t been without its troubles and controversies, however. Privacy, monetization of user data, and other issues are surfacing that have been a cause for discussion. I’ve collected the hot topics being discussed here so that our readers can catch themselves up on the good and the bad, and stay in-the-know for what’s ahead.

I began this blog series with an emphasis on helping small businesses save money when hiring a managed service provider. We provided a guide in the first blog entry about what to look for in a managed services organization and how partnering with an IT company can help the business save money and generate revenue. In this second part of the three part series, we discuss how important it is to backup all data and test these backups on a quarterly basis to perform a dry run in case this were an actual emergency.

New technologies, tools, advancements in mobile, and the power of social media have altered the online landscape over the past decade. Businesses who have kept their websites up to date with emerging trends and technologies have seen their efforts rewarded through increased opportunities for traffic and exposure. However, those that have allowed their websites to become outdated are not only missing out on the latest features, but may even be penalized for lacking them.

The day has finally arrived! Google will begin to reward businesses who have optimized their website for mobile devices and penalize those who are not mobile friendly. The entire web industry, including us, have been pushing businesses to optimize their website for mobile devices to ensure a pleasant experience on mobile and tablet devices. This goes hand and hand with how Google’s search is organically shifting to more mobile searches than traditional desktop searches. The April 21st deadline is fast approaching, the new algorithm update will be pushed to the United States and other countries that same day. Is your website ready for the new algorithm update? We’ll provide some guidance on how you can prepare your website for the mobile search update.